Storeowner complains ordinance is “a load of manure”

By Cecilia Spears

Published: Tuesday, September 25, 2012 at 02:59 PM.

“Provide clean up, adequate garbage cans and toilets,” said Paterson. “I’m a shop owner, a business person, a taxpayer and this isn’t right. It’s not my job to clean up after this event or provide toilets.”

Mayor Lawrence Cloud told Paterson that he, as a shop owner on Main Street, sympathized with her plight and assured her that the council will look into ways of possibly improving this year’s rodeo maintenance and clean up.

A few other residents came before the council about issues with a broken window at the old Padgett Drugs store on Main Street and a store with no roof, no door and mold growing on the inside.

Cloud assured them that a letter will be written to the owner of the old Padgett Drugs store in regards to the safety issue and that the city may get the health department involved with the building that’s growing mold.

“We’ll take care of that,” said Cloud.

The council agreed with member Richard Woodham’s request that something needs to be done about abandoned cars throughout the city.

“It’s one thing to leave them there for 30 days, but for six months?” asked Woodham. “Something’s got to be done.”

BONIFAY — Local resident and store owner Lori Paterson came before the Bonifay City Council during their regularly scheduled meeting on Monday to address concerns with the previous rodeo and request that preparations be made for the upcoming rodeo, especially in regards to manure.

“I understand that the city has ordinances against having horses on the streets,” said Paterson. “This is a health hazard and it’s appalling how the city deals with the manure. We have children who go out and play on the football field who get welts and have medical conditions that are aggravated by the manure.”

Paterson then went into photos of post-rodeo clean up.

“There’s grease imbedded in the sidewalks bringing ants right in front of our shops,” said Paterson. “There’s melted candy and cigarette butts. I’ve been providing trashcans and trash bags, but that’s not my job.”

She then went into the cigarette butts clogging the flag holders on the sidewalk, making it difficult to keep the American flags from touching the ground or falling out during occasions they’re put out, like Memorial Day and the Fourth of July.

“What’s the point in having these ordinances if they aren’t enforced,” said Paterson. “It’s a load of manure.”

After she brought out a petition of 150 signatures, the council Paterson asked what the petition was requesting that the council do.

“Provide clean up, adequate garbage cans and toilets,” said Paterson. “I’m a shop owner, a business person, a taxpayer and this isn’t right. It’s not my job to clean up after this event or provide toilets.”

Mayor Lawrence Cloud told Paterson that he, as a shop owner on Main Street, sympathized with her plight and assured her that the council will look into ways of possibly improving this year’s rodeo maintenance and clean up.

A few other residents came before the council about issues with a broken window at the old Padgett Drugs store on Main Street and a store with no roof, no door and mold growing on the inside.

Cloud assured them that a letter will be written to the owner of the old Padgett Drugs store in regards to the safety issue and that the city may get the health department involved with the building that’s growing mold.

“We’ll take care of that,” said Cloud.

The council agreed with member Richard Woodham’s request that something needs to be done about abandoned cars throughout the city.

“It’s one thing to leave them there for 30 days, but for six months?” asked Woodham. “Something’s got to be done.”

The council approved of the final reading of Ordinance 383 for the city’s 2012-13 Budget.

The next regularly scheduled city council meeting is set for 6 p.m. on Oct. 8 at the Bonifay City Hall.